SOIL
The installation takes the form of a suspended grid of resin spheres, each illuminated to represent different soil nutrients. These visual signals are accompanied by a rhythmic soundscape that responds directly to the data being displayed. As the installation cycles through three decades of soil nutrient records (1990–2021), fluctuations in nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium are translated into shifts in both light intensity and sonic rhythm.
When nutrient levels are balanced, the soundscape remains steady and harmonious. However, when imbalances occur, the audio begins to drift out of sync and become subtly detuned. Individual sonic layers speed up or slow down in response to the data for each nutrient, creating moments of tension, disruption, and eventual realignment. In this way, the installation renders otherwise imperceptible environmental variations into a dynamic interplay of order and chaos.
Designed to be both visually compelling and aurally immersive, SOIL encourages visitors to consider the long-term impact of intensive agricultural practices on soil health. By transforming scientific data into an experiential environment, the work invites reflection on the fragile balance within natural systems and the role human activity plays in shaping them.
Exhibited at: St James Hatchams 2024
Materials: Resin, Wire, Wooden Frame
Tools: Arduino, Max MSP, Ableton, Python
Data taken from: Government reported soil nutrient balances for the regions of England